Method and apparatus for drying hides and the like



.1. A. CRAlG 1,730,125

METHOD AND APPARATUS FORDRYING RIDES AND THE LIKE 'Oct. 1, 1929.

Filed Sept. 1, 1925 4 V 1 INVENTOR JZrmes/Z. Graz WW A'ITORNEY 1 II. III.

Patented Oct. 1,. 19.29

METHOD AND APLPABATUS FOR Application filed $epte1nber My present invention relates to an improvement in process and apparatus for drying green hides and leather.

One of the advantages of my present construction that results from the use of my mechanism is that hides of any condition or state of greenness as to the moisture content can be dried in a relatively short period, doing away with the use of kilns, improving the re silient leather therefrom by producing a superior grade, doing away with the present methods of salting, and eliminating the storing of the green hides during the salting period which necessitates the use of cool cellars for the purpose, and cutting down the cost of freight rates on the hides on account of the elimination of the water content therein, and as a salted green hide weighs about twice as much as a dried hide, it is obvious that the saving in freight rates alone will be consider able.

A further advantage of my process is that it eliminates all of the old methods of drying leather which take very large amount of space and artificial heat, together with the air circulating mechanism therefor and which methods take many days to accomplish, whereas in my present device hides may be thoroughly dried in the course of a few hours.

Another advantage of my process is that due to the manner of holding the hide during the dehydration treatment, the hides are brought from the drier in stretched fiat form and are thereafter easily baled and packed for storage or for further treatment as de sired.

In the accompanying drawings,

1 is a plan View of my revolving dry ing frame,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, and

Fig. 3 is a view of one of the adjustable hide carrying frames with a hide stretched thereon.

While in the present drawing I have shown a substantially conventionalized form of apparatus, it is obvious that various other forms of revolving frames, substantially equivalent as to mounting and revolution of the hide carrying frame may be utilized without depart- DRYING'I-IIDES AND THE LIKE 1, 1925. Serial No. 53,923.

ing from the spirit or scope of the process and apparatus shown herein.

My apparatus comprises as shown in Fig. 2 some suitable form of central revolving support which in the present instance comprises a vertical shaft 1, which is substantially mounted in a concrete base 2, being fixed to a bottom cast iron base support 3 which is bolted to the said concrete base in a substantial manner by bolts 4. Preferably the base plates 3 has a bore raceway 5 arranged therein in which a series of balls 5' are placed, and an upper raceway 6 is provided on the base of the revolving or carrier frame, generally denoted by 7, in such a manner that when the frame is revolved, it is guided at its upper end by a plane bearing 8, Fig. 1, which fits the shaft 1 and a ball bearing support 3, 5, 6 which takes the load and cuts down friction as well as supports the load from oscillating during action.

The revolving frame may be substantially constructed of standard angle iron or other structural iron shapes so that the upper and lower frames generally denoted by 9 and 10 form a substantially rectangular rack and these are joined together by upright struts 11 and 12 also of suitable structural iron construction, and these are in turn tied together by cross braces 13 and 14 so that the central portion of the machine is substantially tied so together to support the outer load on both ends A and B of the apparatus.

At the outer ends A and B of the revolving frame are provided in opposite relation to each other, a series of channel iron pieces gen: erally denoted by G and D, and these are so arranged and fastened to the side rails 9 and 10 on opposite sides as to not only tie the frames together, but act as guideways or slideways for receiving therein the adjustable to hide carrying frame or stretcher, generally denoted by 14, Fig. 3. One of these hide stretchers or carriers 14 is shown in dotted lines in position on the left hand sideof the carrier, Fig. 2.

One of the preferred forms of hide stretching and carrying frames lt is shown in Fig. 3, the same comprising four structural iron supports EE and FF, and these members when fastened together by thumb nuts or any suit- 1B0 able like construction may be adjustably con nected together at their corners so as to form a variable and adjustable stretcher frame whereby the frame may be adjusted to the various sizes of hides, so that the hide H, Fig. 3, may be stretched thereon by suitable means indicated in Fig. 3, by pin receiving holes for releasably securing the green hide to the frames E-F, of the stretcher frame to hold the hide in stretched condition during the drying operation, or any suitable clamp ing means may be used for this purpose.

As a means for preventing the stretcher frames from sliding out of the carrier 7, there are provided at both ends of the channels CD clamps G which are so located as to engage or bear against the upper ends of the hide stretcher frames 14, when these frames are in the channels.

The clamps G are attached to opposite side frames 9 and 10 of the carrier frame 7 by the hangers 15 which are secured at their upper ends to the side frames 9 and 10 by the pivot bolts 15 and pivotally secured at their lower ends, as at 15 to the clamping bars of the clamps, whereby the clamps G may be swung laterally and upwardly to permit introduction of the stretcher frames into the channels CD of the carrier 7, the stretcher frames 14 being held in these channels by the clamp bars when the clamps are swung back into clamping position and are prevented from movement transversely of the carrier frame during rotation of this frame.

It is obvious that when the ides are stretched on their frames as previously described and are set in the carrier channels CD with the clamps G in position, there is a space 16 between each of the carrier channels CC and DD, whereby during the revolving of the carrier 7 air is permitted to pass therebetween.

As a means for permitting the easy revolving at desired speeds of the carrier frame 7, there is provided on the bottom of the carrier a circular rack generally denoted by 17 which is provided with downturned teeth 17. The rack 17 is mounted on the carrier 7 in any suitable manner and is rigidly secured thereto by suitable bolts or in any customary suitable manner not shown. Meshing with the circular rack 17 is a driving gear 18 which in turn is mounted upon a shaft 19 which rests in an upright bearing 20. The opposite end of the shaft 19 has'thereon a second driving pinion 21 which in turn meshes with the stud gear 22, and this in turn is connected to a motor shaft gear 23 which is suitablyand firmly affixed to the armature shaft of the electric motor 24. The electric motor 24 is suitably mounted upon an extension of the concrete base 2, as at X.

As a means for preventing an upthrust of the carrier While 1n motion, a lock collar 25 is afiixed to the upper end of the main stud shaft 1 by a set-screw or key pin 26.

As a further means for causing air to be collected and passed under high compression through the interstices 16 between the adj acent channels CD, the forward moving ends of opposite sides of the carrier 7 are provided with forward projecting scoops 27 somewhat curved, these being affixed to opposite sides of the carrier 7 to permit thestretcher frames A to be introduced into the channels CD on the sides of the carrier 7 which are opposite to the scoops and therefore free from interference thereby with the stretcher frames during such introduction. These scoops 27 are not shown in position, in Fig. 2, for clarity in showing the side elevation of the said apparatus as shown in said figure.

Upon loading the carrier frame 7 with a suitable number of hide carrying frames with their hides stretched thereon and clamping the same therein by means of the clamps G as previously described, the electric motor or other motive source 24 is set in motion and the frame 7 and scoops 27 are caused to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow Y, Fig. l, and upon the carrier frame reaching a predetermined speed air is picked up by scoops and compelled thereby to move through the spaces 16 between the hides H in the stretcher frames and at the maximum desired speed, vast volumes of air being caused to pass between the hides for rapidly extracting the moisture content of the hides.

It will thus be seen that I have invented a new process of drying green hides. I do not need to use heat nor air circulated by fans or air jets as was done by the old crude processes. In my process the hides'are first stretched.

Then they are mounted in a stretched condition on a rotating means as described above. Altho I prefer to rotate the hides positioned so that the plane of each hide is parallel to the axis of rotation, they might be rotated in a different position. As explained above, due to the novel arrangement of my apparatus '1 am enabled tosubject the hides during; rotation to the drying action of air currents. These currents are created simultaneously with the rotation of the hides. especially noted that I get a maximum contact of hide surface and air due to the creation of concentric vortices of air currents. These currents of air have a common axis of rotation which coincides in my process with the iLXlSOf rotation. of the'hides. It will consequently be seen that a very thorough and most ellicient process of drying green hides in a minimum amount of time without heat or expensive compressed air apparatus has been devised.

Continuous operation of the machine as above described removes the moisture from a hide in any state to substantially dry condi- I It should be tion that will permit storing of the hides for an indefinite period in a dry place.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for drying hides, in combination, a rotatable carrier frame, means for rotating said frame, means for stretching hides thereon, means for supporting the hide stretching means in the carrier frame for ro tation with the frames, said hide stretching means being spaced apart in the frame for providing passages for air between the hides during rotation, a plurality of scoop means of unequal length for providing air under compression and directing said air through said passages during rotation of the carrier frame, and means for retaining the hide stretching means in the carrier frame during rotation of the frame.

2. In apparatus for drying hides, in combination, a carrier frame of skeleton construction supported at its mid-portion for rotation and having at its end portion means z for receiving and supporting the hides in the frame for rotation therewith and means for retaining the hides in the frame during rotation, the hides being spaced apart by said supporting means for providing passages for air between the hides during rotation, and means for rotating the frame, and a plurality of members forming a series of means of unequal length for directing air through the frame during rotation thereof.

3. In apparatus for drying hides, in combination, a carrier frame of skeleton construction supported at its mid-portion for rotating and having at its end portion means for receiving and supporting the hides in the frame for rotation therewith and means for retaining the hides in the frame during rotation, the hides being spaced apart by said supporting means for providing-passages for air between the hides during rotation, and scoop means of unequal length appurtenant to opposite sides of the end portions of the frame and individual to each of said spaces for providing air under compression and directing said air through said passages during rotation of the frame, and means for rotating the frame.

4. In apparatus for drying hides, in combination, a carrier frame of skeleton construction supported at its mid-portion for rotation, stretcher frames for the hides, channel members secured in opposed relation to top and bottom side-members of the end portions of the carrier frame for connecting said members and receiving and supporting said stretcher frames for rotation thereof with the carrier frame and spaced apart for providing openings between the stretcher frames for passage of air through side openings during rotation, air scoop means of unequal length secured in offset relation to said oppotion therewith and means for retaining the I hides in the frame during rotation and a plurality of members secured to said frame forming a series of means of unequal length for directing air through the frame during rotation.

6. In apparatus for drying hides, in combination,a rotatable container adapted for passage of air therethrough, and a plurality of members forming a series of means of unequal length for directing air through the container during rotation thereof.

7 In apparatus for drying hides, in combination, a rotatable container adapted for passage of air therethrough, and a plurality of members'forming a series of means for directing air through the container during rotation thereof, said members diminishing in length from one end of the series to the other end of the series.

8. In apparatus for drying hides, in combination, a rotatable container adapted for passage of air therethrough, anda plurality of scoops of unequal length spaced apart and forming a series of scoops for directing air through the container during rotation thereof. I

9. In apparatus for drying hides, in combination, a rotatable container adapted for passage of air therethrough, and a plurality of scoops spaced apart and forming a series of scoops for directing air through the container, said scoops diminishing in length from one end of the series to the other end of the series.

10. In apparatus for drying hides, in combination, a rotatable container adapted for passage of air therethrough, means carrying stretched hides in spaced relation in the container for forming spaces for passage of air through said spaces and through the container, and a plurality of members forming a series of means of unequal length for directing air under compression through said spaces and through the container during rotation of the container.

11. In apparatus for drying hides, in combination, a rotatable container adapted for passage of air therethrough, means carrying stretched hides in spaced relation in the container for forming spaces between adjacent hides for passage of air through said spaces and through the container, and means individual to each of the spaces between the hides for directing air under compression through said spaces and through the container during rotation of the container.

12. In apparatus for drying hides, in combination, a rotatable container adapted for passage of air therethrough, means carrying stretched hides in spaced relation in the container for forming spaces between adjacent hides, and air scoop means individual to each of the spaces between the hides for directing air through said spaces and through the container during rotation of the container.

13. In apparatus for drying hides, in combination, a rotatable container adapted for passage of air therethrough, and frames having hides stretched thereon and supported in spaced relation in the container for forming spaces between the hides for passage of air through said spaces and through the container during rotation of the container, and air scoop means of unequal length individual to each of said spaces between the frames for directing the air through said spaces.

14. In apparatus for drying hides, in combination, a rotatable container adapted for passage of air therethrough, frames having hides stretched thereon and supported in spaced relation in the container for forming spaces between the hides for passage of air through said spaces and through the container, and a plurality of scoop means for unequal length for directing air under compression through said spaces and through the container when the container is rotated.

15. In apparatus for drying hides, in combination, a rotatable-container adapted for passage of air therethrough, frames having ides stretched thereon and supported in spaced relation in the container for forming spaces between adjacent hides for passage of air through said spaces and through the container, and air scoop means individual to each of the spaces between the frames for directing air through said spaces and through the container during rotation of the container.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York this'31st day of August A. D. 1925.

JAMES A. CRAIG. 

